Another independent film producer "is using Buffalo as his canvas," said Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark in describing the work of filmmaker Mac Cappuccino. Cappuccino and his crew have been present along Hertel Avenue as they produce "Malaisia." Clark chats about the project with WBFO's Pat Feldballe during his monthly appearance on Press Pass.

From Buckingham Palace and Buffalo's Richardson Olmsted Complex - to the streets of Havana - the New York State Capitol - and the iconic towers of the Brooklyn Bridge - these are just some of the things made with Medina Sandstone. And now there's a local group busy identifying and "celebrating" structures made with the once popular building material.

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4:07

WBFO's Chris Caya reports that Medina Sandstone was a popular building material for nearly 100 years.

Neglia Ballet Artists is preparing for their annual Dancing to Live Gala to be held Thursday, May 18th. WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says the event will premier two new ballet dances featuring world-renowned artists.

Drugs and the opioid epidemic are an ongoing burden in Western New York, with continuous efforts being made through education, medical treatment, and government agencies. But a church in Jamestown is trying a different approach to dealing with this very real crisis.

Newly named Buffalo Zoo president and CEO Norah Fletchall will officially take the position on May 22. When she completes her move from the Indianapolis Zoological Society, where she has served most recently as a senior vice president and chief operating officer, she'll face the challenges of running a smaller zoo with fewer dollars and a mission to build upon last year's significant uptick in attendance.

Tim O’Shei of The Buffalo News has been traveling around the country visiting Western New Yorkers who have had a big impact on pop culture. His latest feature in The Buffalo Connection series, which hit print Sunday, is a profile of Cirque du Soleil Composer Seth Stachowski. Stachowski’s big dreams and instrumental talent have taken him from across North America and back again.

Erie County's election-year budget is not due until the middle of October, but the quest to include some money in that budget for arts and culturals brought out around 70 agencies Thursday to the WNED|WBFO studios.

Cultural learning is an important part of a student’s education. WBFO's Senior Reporter Eileen Buckley says, recently, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and New York State Board of Regents named a new deputy commissioner of cultural education.

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2:07

WBFO's senior reporter Eileen Buckley says recently the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and New York State Board of Regents named a new deputy commissioner of cultural education.

Take a look at any guide to starting a business and you’re likely to find first among the recommended steps, to research your market and then formulate a business plan. But some entrepreneurs find success without a plan and instead follow their hearts, use their smarts, and catch a trend. WBFO’s Arts & Culture Desk producer Scott Sackett visited with a local performance artist who did just that, opening a studio in Buffalo for a cinematic style of dance that’s gaining enormous popularity worldwide.

When you think of innovation industries and start-ups on the vanguard of Buffalo’s new economy, chances are what comes to mind are businesses in the health sciences, biotech, renewable energy, and digital technologies. But there is a growing number of artists in traditional trades such as woodworking and metalworking who are fostering a new creative industry in Buffalo. WBFO Arts and Culture Desk producer Scott Sackett visited the business incubator The Foundry, where art and commerce converge with cultural heritage and emerging trends.

President Trump's proposed budget calls for big cuts in a wide array of domestic programs — among them, agencies that fund the arts, humanities and public media.

Funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would be cut to zero under the proposal, and the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities would be eliminated entirely, the first time any president has proposed such a measure.

We all know the power music can have over us. A certain melody or a song can instantly transport us to another place and time and have a real effect on our mood. Buffalo blues musician Patti Parks had an idea several years ago to harness music’s transformative power to help people who face severe challenges. WBFO Blues host Pat Feldballe spoke with Parks about blues music therapy.

It takes two trucks to transport the International Touring Organ which will grace the stage of Kleinhans Music Hall when the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and JoAnn Falletta welcome organist Cameron Carpenter to perform some rather loud music Friday morning and Saturday night. The all-digital organ's sounds were "sampled" from some of Carpenter's favorite organs.

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2:53

Cameron Carpenter credits the mighty Wurlitzer theater organ at Shea's Performing Arts Center here in Buffalo for his early inspiration.

"It's one of the most satisfying moments in all of music" says Dover Quartet cellist Camden Shaw about the music of Beethoven which was to be played tonight, March 8, at 7:30 p.m. at UB. UPDATE: CONCERT POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER (HIGH WINDS). NEW DATE T.B.A.

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10:22

Camden Shaw talks about the relatively young award winning Dover Quartet and the music of Beethoven.

Have you ever felt like you’ve hit a barrier at work? A period when you’re just grinding it out and you’d like to find a way to get your head back in the game? That was what it was like for RE Katz. She’s a writer and artist who found that magic zone again at Dreamland Arts in their newly-launched residency program. WBFO Arts and Culture Desk producer Scott Sackett visited with Dreamland’s first artist-in-residence and shares her story about the residency and the personal politics of her art.

The local arts and culture community is preparing for cuts in federal funding. The White House Office of Management and Budget has suggested eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities among others.

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2:46

WBFO's Chris Caya reports on the possible cuts facing arts and cultural organizations in Western New York and across the United States.